"National industries keep on growing so we need to anticipate a possible shortage of gas," Hidayat said.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia will import gas from the Middle East to meet increasing demand following strong growth of national industries, Industry Minister MS Hidayat said.
"National industries keep on growing so we need to anticipate a possible shortage of gas," Hidayat said before attending a meeting with the House of Representatives (DPR)`s Commission VI here on Monday.
He said the government had already given a preliminary permit for the imports so what now needed to be done was to negotiate gas supply deals with suitable Middle Eastern countries.
Therefore, he said, in view of the current situation the imported gas may come from Qatar but also from other Middle Eastern countries.
He said the gas import was urgently needed because domestic supply was meeting only 60 percent of domestic need while infrastructure problems were also hindering industries to get supplies.
He said he could not as yet determine the volume of gas to be imported as it still had to be adjusted to the needs of the industrial sectors.
"I just met with industrialists who have expressed their need for additional gas supplies and still have to coordinate with the energy and mineral resources ministry," he said.
He said he predicted the import would only be realized in the next two years due to gas terminal infrastructure problems.
"But while waiting for the development of the infrastructure for gas distribution in the regions, we may temporarily use the LNG Receiving Terminal in Aceh and the mobile receiving terminal," he said.
Domestic industries had so far been relying on gas from sources or suppiers in the country. But until the end of 2011 state gas company PT PGN could only meet around 583 MMSCFD of an existing demand for 863 MMSCFD.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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